James Harrington Quotes

• Every man, either to his terror or consolation, has some sense of religion.

  James Harrington

  Men, Religion, Terror

  James Harrington, John Toland, John Hall (1737). “Oceana”, p.516

  52 Copy quote

• The Law is but words and paper without the hands of swords of men.

  James Harrington

  Men, Hands, Law

  25 Copy quote

• No man can be a politician, except he be first a historian or a traveller; for except he can see what must be, or what may be, he is no politician.

  James Harrington

  Men, May, Firsts

  1656 The Commonwealth of Oceana.

  24 Copy quote

• And government (to define it de facto, or according to modern prudence) is an art whereby some man, or some few men, subject a city or a nation, and rule it according to his or their private interest; which, because the laws in such cases are made according to the interest of a man, or of some few families, may be said to be the empire of men, and not of laws.

  James Harrington

  Art, Men, Law

  James Harrington, J. G. A. Pocock (1992). “Harrington: 'The Commonwealth of Oceana' and 'A System of Politics'”, p.9, Cambridge University Press

  17 Copy quote

• A whole army, though they can neither write nor read, are not afraid of a platform... therefore a whole army is afraid of one man.

  James Harrington

  Writing, Army, Men

  James Harrington, J. G. A. Pocock (1992). “Harrington: 'The Commonwealth of Oceana' and 'A System of Politics'”, p.9, Cambridge University Press

  15 Copy quote

• Vice: Whatever was passion in the contemplation of man, being brought forth by his will into action.

  James Harrington

  Passion, Men, Vices

  James Harrington (1737). “The Oceana and Other Works”, p.42

  9 Copy quote

• The blushing cheek speaks modest mind,The lips befitting words most kind,The eye does tempt to love's desire,And seems to, say 'tis "Cupid's fire.

  James Harrington

  Eye, Fire, Mind

  10 Copy quote

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin